By Marcie Geffner - Bankrate.com
Entry-level jobs and piles of student loan debt can make saving and investing a struggle for many young adults. But it's still smart to start early in life -- even in a small way -- to develop the habits of saving and investing wisely.
Saving is simple, says Kent Grealish, an hourly rate investment planner with Grealish Investment Counseling in San Bruno, California.
Of course, simple doesn't mean easy.
"It's not rocket science, but it is really difficult once you're working and have been spending your paycheck to save, because you spend whatever comes in," Grealish says.
Read on:
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/savings/saving-tips-for-20-somethings-1.aspx
Buying a home in your 20s? Totally do-able
By Marcie Geffner - HSH.com
Buying a home in your 20s might seem like a long shot, but in fact, many 20-somethings can -- and do -- make the leap into homeownership.
Millennials, defined by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as homebuyers up to age 34, made up the largest group of recent homebuyers at 32 percent, according to a recent NAR survey.
Who are millennial homebuyers?
The median age of millennial buyers was 29 years. While that's at the top of the 20-something bracket, the median definition means half the buyers were younger and half older.
Read on:
http://www.hsh.com/finance/real-estate/how-to-buy-a-home-in-your-20s.html
Buying a home in your 20s might seem like a long shot, but in fact, many 20-somethings can -- and do -- make the leap into homeownership.
Millennials, defined by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as homebuyers up to age 34, made up the largest group of recent homebuyers at 32 percent, according to a recent NAR survey.
Who are millennial homebuyers?
The median age of millennial buyers was 29 years. While that's at the top of the 20-something bracket, the median definition means half the buyers were younger and half older.
Read on:
http://www.hsh.com/finance/real-estate/how-to-buy-a-home-in-your-20s.html
Should you buy a leftover listing?
By Marcie Geffner
Every homebuyer has a dream house: the one that offers the perfect combination of location, size, condition and price.
These days, it's entirely likely that dream house exists, but it isn't on the market because the supply of for-sale homes in many areas is smaller than normal.
Sit on the fence or jump off?
So should you wait for the home you really want? Or should you buy a home that's not quite right, but might be good enough and is actually for sale at a price you can afford?
The answer isn't obvious.
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/real-estate/wait-for-dream-home-or-settle.aspx
Every homebuyer has a dream house: the one that offers the perfect combination of location, size, condition and price.
These days, it's entirely likely that dream house exists, but it isn't on the market because the supply of for-sale homes in many areas is smaller than normal.
Sit on the fence or jump off?
So should you wait for the home you really want? Or should you buy a home that's not quite right, but might be good enough and is actually for sale at a price you can afford?
The answer isn't obvious.
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/real-estate/wait-for-dream-home-or-settle.aspx
Home improvement with FHA Title 1 loan
By Marcie Geffner - LoanDepot.com
If you want to make upgrades to your home, a Federal Housing Administration Title 1 Home and Property Improvement Loan could be your best option.
Title 1 loans can be used to repair, improve or remodel single-family houses and multifamily properties anywhere in the United States. You don’t need to have an FHA mortgage.
Title 1 loans feature fixed, market-level interest rates and long-term repayment options, making them one of the most affordable financing options available. You don’t need a ton of equity in your home to qualify.